The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-09-08
POULTRY AS AN INVESTMENT.
BY R. 81. WEATHERS.

eIf farmers will look at poultry rails
ing in a financial sense and first con-
slider the cost Of the enterprise, the
comparison with other farm stock will
be largely in favor Of poultry. Any
farmer would gladly risk capital in
any animal that realized double it's
cost in a year, for few of them do rs
well. as that, unless in good hands ;
but it is a common thing with poultry
(when an accurate account is kept
with them.) Let is look a little into
the cost, expense and profits that may
be expected from a single hen well
cared for. First to be considered is
the capital to be invested, 80 cents for
hen common stock) rs cents for her
proportional share Of the quarters Tor
house, which she occupies, IS cents to
feed her (high estimate) when they
run at large, Is cents for i~ncidentals,
interest ON money, &c, Here we have
$l.55 invested in one hen. Now for
the assets: Value of hen, 80 cents 6
dozen eggs at 20 cents per dozen,
$l.2o (any hen under two years old
ought to and will lay that many if
cared for properly and set at least once
and raise 6 chicks, at 20 cents each,
$l.2O; deduct the cost of feeding 6
chicks for 10 weeks, 60 cents, leaving
60 cents clear on the young chicks.
80 pounds or IL bushel manure at
/ IL cents per pound, 40 cents, which
is a low estimate, as it is really worth
about as much to the farmer as Peru
Wan guano, which sells at about 2
cents per pound. AS all the estimates
that can be made against the hen have
been made, we are safe as to the re-
suit. The net profit is $1.O5, or a lit
tie over 100 per cent. on the capital
invested. While we have shown that
there is a good profit in keeping COM
mon fowls, we claim and stand ready
to prove with facts and figures, after
an experience of eight years, that
there is much more pleasure and profit
in the keeping Of thoroughbred fowls.
For comparison, take the raising of
beef to bring an OK up to a weight of
1000 or 1900 pounds, fit for the
butcher, requires four years or longer.
The beef when slaughtered and mar
keted will pay five OF six per cent.
upon the cost of feed and outlay !;
never over eight per cent. In six
months from the shell the same value
in poultry, $75 or $1OO can be pro-
duced grown and readily marketed in
good condition at one-third the cost.
A hundred and twenty-five chickens
will give an average aggregate,
dressed weight at this age of 500
pounds (if the larger breeds are bred
In the months of October, November
and December, clean fat chickens al
ways demand in any market from s
to 10 cents per pound. Thus the
producer may realize in six months
time, and for about $35 cost at the
outside, in chickens, what, if he at
tempts the beef raising In preference,
will take four years to bring about at
q cost Of $55 or $50. In the one case
he makes from 5 to 8 per cent. on his
investment, in the other from 80 to 35
per cent, or at the lowest estimate
from go to 10 per cent. per year.
Doubtless some one will say I cannot
make money on my chickens. To all
such we would ask, have you kept an
accurate account with your poultry
for one year ct the time Z 1t not,
then you have no facts and figures to